Pubdate: Thu, 13 Aug 2009
Source: Aspen Times (CO)
Copyright: 2009 Aspen Times
Contact:  http://www.aspentimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3784
Author: Carolyn Sackariason, The Aspen Times
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/dispensaries
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)

MEDICAL MARIJUANA COMING TO ASPEN

ASPEN -- Aspen is about to have its first medical marijuana dispensary.

The manager of Aspen L.E.A.F. (Locals Emporium of Alternative Farms), 
who asked to be identified only as Charlie at the wishes of his 
family, said Wednesday that a local ownership group plans to open a 
dispensary in downtown Aspen next week. They are currently looking at 
a couple of locations to set up shop, and a lease will be signed within days.

We're looking at two locations in the center of town," Charlie said. 
"We've spoken to the landlords, and they are very supportive of it."

Several strains of the plant, which is Colorado-grown, will be 
offered, and will be available in edible and vaporized form for those 
qualified to buy cannabis. Starter plants with lighting equipment 
will be sold, as will kief and hashish.

Under Colorado's medical marijuana law, approved by voters as 
Amendment 20 in 2000, patients with certain conditions, including 
HIV, muscle spasms and chronic pain, can use medical marijuana as 
long as they get a doctor's approval and register with the state.

The law permits patients or their designated caregivers to grow up to 
six marijuana plants or possess two ounces of usable marijuana.

Although they don't need much space for the dispensary, Charlie said 
he and the owners are looking for a location that offers privacy for 
those who want to consume on-site.

We're hoping that at each of our locations, we'll have a lounge area, 
a private place for our patients," he said of Aspen and possible 
future locations in Eagle and southern Colorado.

The Aspen pot shop will become the Roaring Fork Valley's third dispensary.

The WIN Health Institute, an alternative health care cooperative 
located in Basalt, was set to open a dispensary Aug. 10, and Colorado 
Mountain Dispensary (C.M.D.) opened for business in Carbondale in early July.

Charlie said he and the owners believe there is enough room in the 
market to have three dispensaries within 30 miles of each other.

It's a budding market, and we want to be part of it," he said. "It 
fits in with the Roaring Fork Valley."

Charlie, who has experience operating dispensaries in the Los Angeles 
area, said his group plans to differentiate themselves with an 
educated staff who will be able to give personalized care to their 
patients, matching the appropriate strain to a particular person, and 
his or her ailment.

We have a knowledgeable ownership group with green thumbs," he said. 
"We'll try to keep as many strains as possible available ... we're 
offering a little of everything."

The product is ready to be harvested in a warehouse and will be 
available when the group opens their doors.

An eighth of an ounce will be priced at $60, and locals' discounts 
and other pricing programs will be offered at reduced rates.

The group filed a business license application with the city of Aspen 
this week.

Chris Bendon, the city's community development director, said there 
is no formal application, but a question related to zoning was asked 
by a representative of Colorado Medical Marijuana Supply, the local 
ownership group.

Our zoning code does not specifically define this use or cite medical 
marijuana dispensary as an allowed use in any of our zone districts," 
Bendon said via e-mail, adding the issue will be discussed today in a 
staff meeting. "However, it may be similar to other allowed uses, and 
that's what we need to talk through."

The Basalt Town Council on Tuesday approved a 90-day moratorium on 
new pot dispensaries to buy time for its planning staff to work on 
regulations governing such facilities.

Neither Pitkin County Sheriff Bob Braudis nor Aspen Police Chief 
Richard Pryor said they see any problems with a pot dispensary in Aspen.

Pryor did say security could be an issue, adding some municipalities 
require beefed-up protection systems to deter break-ins.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake